Colonels on verge of improbable

Itís been an interesting season for the Nicholls State Colonels to say the least.

Injuries to key players, academic woes and player defections have left Nicholls with seven active players on its roster.

But even with a short bench, itís clear the Colonels are not short on talent and smarts. How else can we explain with two games remaining on its schedule, Nicholls controls its own destiny in earning a berth in next weekís Southland Conference tournament?

Thatís right. All the Colonels have to do is beat Lamar Thursday and McNeese State Saturday and they punch their ticket to the SLC tournament.

Getting to the tournament would be no small feat for a team that couldíve easily folded its tent long ago after starting the season 1-13.

After playing a non-conference slate that included five-Southeastern conference schools, along with Texas and Washington, not many teams couldíve rebounded from a number of double-digit beatings and look forward to the conference slate.

But even after a 2-6 start to the SLC season, this team never gave up. And over the past three weeks, Nicholls has played its best basketball of the season.

Yes, the Colonels just missed out of getting to the SLC tournament last season. But down the stretch, Nicholls lost its final six games when it took just a win or two to put them in the mix.

This season, Nicholls has won four of its last six games and has two winnable games to end the season. Itís been a long time since Colonel fans have had confidence that their team can get the job done.

Even though the Colonels can easily win their final two games with just seven players, there are factors out of their control that could deter their tournament push.

As we recently witnessed, the Colonels were worn out in a 70-66 loss to Central Arkansas.

No matter how talented a team is, when players have to stay on the court from an extended period time, it catches up with them.

Throughout the season, the Colonels have found themselves in a weary state. But at the same time, they have bounced back and found the energy needed to give a better effort and won games.

Hopefully, Nicholls can bounce back from its loss to Central Arkansas and play well this week and end a six-year SLC tournament drought.

The only disappointment I take from this season is the lack of focus on academics. Injuries happen and no coach can guard against losing players to untimely mishaps. But losing players to academics falls on the shoulder of the player and the program and it definitely needs to stop.

Going back to the Rickey Broussard-era, there were players sitting in street clothes waiting on grades and started playing a month into the season.

Most of the players, if not all, gained their eligibility. But by the time they got in a groove, the conference season was half over.

So, this is not a problem that is a recent occurrence. Academic woes, unfortunately, has been a constant within the basketball program for years and it is time to stop.

I know in any athletic program, players donít always make the grade. But, with just 13 players on a basketball roster, losing one or two players to academics is a monumental roadblock.

Thursday begins the biggest two-game stretch in J.P. Piperís time as Colonels coach.

Even though the Colonels sport a 7-21 record, it is clear the program has made strides competing in the Southland Conference.

But one backward step in the final two games, and the Colonelsí chances at the postseason are over. After years of going backward, this program has to go forward, and getting into the SLC tournament pushes it in the right direction.

Staff Writer Teddy Renois can be reached at 857-2210 or at 448-7600 ext. 2210 or by e-mail at teddy.renois@dailycomet.com.